Collapsible table



April 5, 1966 O. ROY

COLLAPS IBLE TABLE Filed May 25, 1964 /2 4 V I b 6 i 5 /3 A2) nvwzzvroza Omel- ROY AGENT wardly directed flange 3 at its perimeter.

United States Patent 3,244,451 COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Omar Roy, 393 La Fortune St, Bois des Filions, Quebec, Canada Filed May 25, 1964, Ser. No. 369,924

3 Claims. (Cl. 297-157) The present invention relates to a portable collapsible t-alble, more particularly adapted to be used as a picnic and camping table. a

The general object of the present invention resides in the collapsible table described, which combines a table top with individual seats, each disposed opposite a side of the table top, whereby each side can be used by a seated person.

Another objectof the present invention resides in the provision of a table of the character described, which is of very light weight and takes up a minimum of room in its collapsed condition, allthe elements of the table being stored inside a box which itself constitutes the table top.

Another objectcf the present invention resides in the provision of a collapsible table of the character described, which can be erected and collapsed in a minimum time and without any tool.

Another object of thepresent invention resides in the provision of a table of the character described, which, when in erected position, is.very sturdy and can support a relatively heavy Weight. r

The foregoing and other important objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the table top in collapsed carrying position and containing all the other constituting elements of the table;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the table in erected position;

FIGURE 3 is a partial plan section of the inner end portions of the radial arms; and

FIGURE 4 is a section taken along line 44 of FIG- URE 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like elements throughout, the table top is generally indicated at 1 and comprises two rectangular sections 2, each having an in- The inside longitudinal flanges 3 of the two sections 2 are hinged to each other by means of hinges 4, whereby the two sections can be folded one against the other to form a [box-like structure, as shown in FIGURE 1, or can be opened in such a way that the two sections 2 will be in a common plane to form a table top, as shown at 1 in FIGURE 2.

The external longitudinal flanges 3 of the two sections 2 are provided with latching means 5 to latch the box in closed position and one of the external flanges 3 is provided with a handle 6 for carrying the table in collapsed position.

Four radial arms 7 are pivotally connected to one another at their inner ends 8 by means of hinges 9 and 9'. Hinges 9 are similar to conventional door hinges, while hinge 9' has an L-shaped hinge pin 10, which is removably inserted within the mating hinge plates and is retained to one of the arm-s 7 by means of a chain 11.

Thus, by removing hinge pin 10, the hinge plates of hinge 9 can be separated and the radial arms 7 folded one against the other, as shown in dot-and-dash lines in FIGURE 3.

In erected position, arms 7 extend at about 90 angles with respect to each other and in a common plane and are maintained in said position by inserting hinge pin 10 within the two mating hinge plates of hinge 9.

- the latter.

3,244,451 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 Radial arms 7, in their erected position, are supported in a horizontal plane and above the ground by means of legs 12, as shown in FIGURE 2.

The main faces of each arm 7 are provided at the outer ends 13 of said arms with a groove 14, shown in FIGURE 4, which is slightly inclined with respect to the vertical.

These grooves 14 receive the edges of a slot 15 made in the upper central part of each leg 12 and opening at the upper edge of said leg, whereby the legs are removably maintained in an inclined position slightly protruding outwardly, as shown in FIGURE 2.

-Legs 12 can be easily pulled out of engagement with the corresponding arm 7.

The outer end portion 13 of each arm 7 supports a removable seat 16, which rests on top of arm 7 straddling The internal reduced end 17 of seat 16 is provided with a notch engaging the sides of a block 1 8 secured to arm 7 on top of the latter and in turn having an extension 19 overlying end 17 of seat 1 6 beyond the above-noted notch.

The main portion of seat 16 is provided at its under- -face with a transverse groove receiving tongues 20 protruding from the top edge of leg 12. Thus, seat 16 rests over leg 12 over its entire Width and cannot therefore tilt, while tongues 20 block the seat in its position of use.

A support lever 21 is pivoted by means of hinge 22 to the top of each radial arm 7 adjacent block 18, whereby lever 21 can pivot in the plane of its radial arm 7 between a folded position resting on top of arm 7 and an upright position, as shown in FIGURE 2, at right angles to arm 7 and abutting the inner face of block 18.

- The upper end of each support lever 21 is provided with a pin 23, removably engaging holes made in the flanges 3 of each section 2 to support the table top 1 in a horizontal position above arms 7 and seats 16.

In its position of use, table top 1 has each of its sides disposed opposite and associated seat 16, said seat 16 together with the supporting radial arm 7 protruding from the center of the associated side of the table and at substantially right angles with respect to said sides. Thus, each of the four seats can support a person in straddling seated position thereon opposite each of the four sides of the table top.

In order to further reinforce the table in its erected position, a connecting bar 24 is pivotally attached by screw 25 to approximately the center of the longitudinal internal flange 3 of one of sections 2, whereby in its folded position it lies against said longitudinal flange, and in its unfolded position it is at right angles with respect to the plane of tab-1e top 1 and extends downwardly below a radial arm 7, whereby the hook member 26 protruding laterally from the lower end of bar 24, can engage the under edge of each arm 7, as shown in FIGURE 2. Thus, bar 24 supports the inner ends 8 of all the radial arms 7, in reaction against the downward forces resulting from the weight of the persons seated on seats 16 or weight resting on table top 1.

The table in accordance with the present invention in disassembled condition comprises ten separate parts, namely: four legs 12, four seats 16, the assembly of the four radial arms 7 and levers 1.2, and the assembly of the boxlike table top 1, to which is secured the connecting bar 24.

Radial arms 7 in their folded position with the levers 2'1 folded on top thereof, together with the legs 12 and seats 16, are easily lodged within the box formed by table top 1 and its flanges 3, whereby said box can be closed for carrying, as shown in FIGURE 1.

To erect the table, the arms 7 are unfolded to take a right angle position with respect to each other and are locked in said position by means of hinge pin (10 joining bar 24 is thereafter placed in hooking position and the erected table is very strong.

While a preferred embodiment inaccordance with the present invention has been illustrated and described, it is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A collapsible table comprising, in combination, a plurality of straight radial arms which are pivotally connected at their inner ends to take a folded position extending one beside the other and an erected position in which each arm makes an angle with respect to the other, a seat for each arm remova'bly supported by the outside end of said arm in the erected position of said arms, a groundengaging supporting leg for each arm removaibly supporting the external end of said arm, a table top having straight sides and a straight lever for eaciharm pivoted thereto intermediate the ends of said arm to take a folded position alongside the latter and an erected upright position, said table top having its sides directly and removably supported by said supporting levers at a level above said radial arms inthe erected position of saidlevers, each radial arm and seat associated therewith protruding outwardly with respect to the center of a straight side of said table.

2. A collapsible table as claimed in claim 1, further including a block secured to each radial arm adjacent the pivotal connection of the associated lever to said radial arm against which said lever abuts in the erected upright position of the latter, said block having an extension overlying the inner end of said seat to secure said inner end to said radial arm.

3. A collapsible table as claimed in claim 1, further including a connecting bar pivotally attached at one end to the underside of the center zone of said table top and extending, in the erected position of said table, downwardly below said table top and having its free end removably attached to one of said radial arms near the 1 inner end thereof to support the inner pivotally connected ends of said radial arms in reaction against the downward forces resulting from a weight on said table top and from the weight of persons seated on said seats.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 729,548 6/1903 Cobb 2018 1,375,212 4/1921 Crone 5-303 1,626,293 4/ 1927 Mason 108-34 1,964,789 7/1934 MacDonald 297-4139 2,080,982 5/1937 MacDonald 297l39 2,433,315 12/ 1947 Bieszki 108-36 2,522,774 9/1950 Bower 297l39 2,524,198 10/1950 La Rue 10834 X 2,647,562 8/1953 Hotfar 297139 2,673,596 3/1954 V-an Haase 297-139 2,800,952 7/1957 :McPhilomy 297 157 2,805,707 9/ 1957 Schoeppner 297139 2,911,265 11/1959 Hannah 108t157 X 2,936,204 5/1960 Sofi 108-34 2,937,062 5/ 1960 Knuse 108-34 3,120,405 2/1964 Soszynski 297-457 FOREIGN PATENTS 489,139 1/ 1954 Italy.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE TABLE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF STRAIGHT RADIAL ARMS WHICH ARE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT THEIR INNER ENDS TO TAKE A FOLDED POSITION EXTENDING ONE BESIDE THE OTHER AND AN ERECTED POSITION IN WHICH EACH ARM MAKES AN ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER, A SEAT FOR EACH ARM REMOVABLY SUPPORTED BY THE OUTSIDE END OF SAID ARM IN THE ERECTED POSITION OF SAID ARMS, A GROUNDENGAGING SUPPORTING LEG FOR EACH ARM REMOVABLY SUPPORTING THE EXTERNAL END OF SAID ARM, A TABLE TOP HAVING STRAIGHT SIDES AND A STRAIGHT LEVER FOR EACH ARM PIVOTED THERETO INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID ARM TO TAKE A FOLDED POSITION ALONGSIDE THE LATTER AND AN ERECTED UPRIGHT POSITION, SAID TABLE TOP HAVING ITS SIDES DIRECTLY AND REMOVABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID SUPPORTING LEVERS AT A LEVEL ABOVE SAID RADIAL ARMS IN THE ERECTED POSITION OF SAID LEVERS, EACH RADIAL ARM AND SEAT ASSOCIATED THEREWITH PROTRUDING OUTWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO THE CORNER OF A STRAIGHT SIDE OF SAID TABLE. 